DONATE NOWOutpatient Laser Treatment to Lower Eye Pressure
Selective laser trabeculoplasty for glaucoma (SLT), an outpatient laser procedure, lowers intraocular pressure (IOP) – particularly in people with open-angle glaucoma. SLT targets cells in the trabecular meshwork, helping improve the drainage of aqueous humor from the eye and lower eye pressure.
Selective laser trabeculoplasty may be used when eye pressure needs to be lowered to help manage glaucoma. It may be considered as an initial treatment or when glaucoma medications do not lower eye pressure enough, cause side effects, or are difficult to use consistently. Your ophthalmologist can determine whether SLT is appropriate based on your eye pressure, glaucoma type, and treatment history.
The procedure takes about 15 minutes to perform. Before the procedure, topical anesthetic drops numb the eye, and the treatment uses a contact lens on the eye. The laser passes through a microscope similar to the one your doctor uses to examine your eye in the office. After the laser treatment, you will wait briefly while the medical team checks your eye pressure. Allow 2 hours for the entire procedure. You will need to use an anti-inflammatory drop in the eye for several days following the procedure.
Recovery and Benefits of Selective Laser Trabeculoplasty
You will return for several postoperative visits to monitor your eye pressure. Expect several weeks before your doctor sees a lower pressure in the eye treated. Early results show that patients may repeat the laser treatment if necessary.
Benefits of the laser include no adverse events from added medications and the delay of a surgical procedure. Please feel free to discuss this laser or other procedures with your physician. Learn more about other types of laser treatment for glaucoma. For additional information about glaucoma laser procedures, visit the National Eye Institute’s guide to laser treatment for glaucoma.